Method, system, and integrated circuit for communication in RFID or remote sensor systems

ABSTRACT

In certain embodiments, a method may include receiving, at one of a plurality of remote units, a command from a control unit. The method may also include determining a random number specifying a time slot of a first series of time slots for transmitting a second data sequence to the control unit, and, in response to a determination that the random number specifies the first time slot in the first series of time slots, determining a new random number. The method may further include transmitting, in the first time slot in the first series of time slots, a first data sequence to the control unit. The method may further include receiving a control signal. The control signal having been transmitted by the control unit upon detection of an at least partially simultaneous transmission of first data sequences by more than one of the remote units.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation under 35 U.S.C. §120 of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/115,185 filed Apr. 27, 2005, entitled“Communication Method in RFID or Remote Sensor Systems,” which willissue on Nov. 8, 2011 as U.S. Pat. No. 8,054,162 and claims the benefitunder 35 U.S.C. 119(a) of German Patent Application No. DE102004020956.1, filed in Germany on Apr. 28, 2004.

This nonprovisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a)on German Patent Application No. DE 102004020956.1, which was filed inGermany on Apr. 28, 2004, and which is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method for communicating between acontrol unit and a number of remote units located in the response areaof the control unit, for example, a base station and a number of tags inRFID or remote sensor systems, wherein the remote units are prompted totransmit a data sequence to the control unit in executing a command sentby the control unit.

2. Description of the Background Art

Today a wide variety of technical applications are known which usecommunication systems having at least one control unit or base stationand a plurality of remote units arranged in a communication field aboutthe control unit. In this context, the control unit is frequentlycapable of collecting information contained in the remote units; inaddition, it can also be designed to write information in the remoteunits. The communication field can be composed of physical connectionsbetween the control unit and the remote units, or alternatively, cantake the form of the transmissions of electromagnetic waves between thecontrol unit and the remote units.

An example of the latter type of systems are radio frequencyidentification (RFID) systems, in which a control unit in the form of abase station (also known as a reader) transmits signals in the radiofrequency range to remote units, which are primarily implemented asintegrated circuits with a transmitting and receiving device (antenna)and are called transponders or tags. The tags can be used, inparticular, as identification for objects, such as pieces of luggage, orfor livestock, or people within the framework of access control.Moreover, when they are suitably designed, such tags can also performsensor functions, for example temperature measurement, in which casethey are typically called remote sensors.

In the aforementioned systems, data transmission from the tag to thebase station can either take place with a time offset relative to thedata transmission from the base station to the tag—in which case it iscalled a half-duplex transmission method (for example, Finkenzeller,RFID-Handbuch, 3rd edition (2002), Hanser, p. 40 ff, which was publishedin English by John Wiley & Sons, and corresponds to page 40 ff of thepublished English version—or it takes place in both directions at once,which is called full-duplex. For data transmission from the tag to thebase station (return link), a so-called backscatter method is frequentlyused in this context, wherein the tag appropriately modulates andreflects back to the base station a carrier signal (carrier wave) of thebase station, which in so-called passive tags can also serve to supplyenergy. A common modulation method is, for example, amplitude shiftkeying (ASK).

Within the scope of most of the above-mentioned applications, multipleremote units are present in the response area of the control unit, withthe result that a transmission from the control unit is received by morethan one remote unit. Hence an information query from the control unitcan under certain circumstances result in a plurality of (simultaneous)transmissions from remote units to the control unit (known as multipleaccess), which generally disrupts or at least impedes reception by thecontrol unit, especially when the remote units transmit with only verylow useful signal strength, such as is the case with backscatter-basedRFID systems.

To avoid these problems, a variety of anticollision or arbitrationmethods are known in RFID systems, the principles of which are explainedin Finkenzeller, op. cit., pp 203 ff, which corresponds to pp 200 ff ofthe published English version and which is incorporated by referenceherein. Such methods serve to permit the base station to sequentiallyselect individual tags from among a plurality of tags and communicateselectively therewith. Upon conclusion of a communication with a tag (ora group of tags), the tag or tags are often muted until all tags havebeen addressed in this way without the aforementioned collisionproblems.

Another fundamental problem in the aforementioned communication systemsis associated with the time period that must be calculated for readinginformation with a plurality of remote units, wherein efforts arefrequently made to minimize the length of this time period.

A method is known from, for example, EP 1 172 755 A1, which correspondsto U.S. Publication No. 2002/0024422, and which is directed to readinginformation in a case of a plurality of transponders of an electronicidentification system are operated in a half-duplex mode, in which abase station, upon successfully detecting a first part of a signalsequence transmitted by one of the transponders, transmits a controlsignal in the form of a notch signal (modulation dip, field gap) whichmutes all transponders that are still inactive at that point in time,whereupon the base station uses an additional control signal to causethe transponder in question to transmit the remainder of the sequence.It must be viewed as a particular disadvantage here that an ASK-basedbackscatter transponder in particular must disable its RSSI channel(RSSI=receiver signal strength indicator) when operating its ASKmodulator on account of overshoot problems caused by the occurrence ofpeaks during ASK modulation. Moreover it is necessary, especially withlarge transmission distances, to operate with a large modulation index mclose to the value m=1 (known as on-off keying) so that the transponderthen can no longer reliably determine whether the aforementioned notchsignal comes from the base station or whether it was generated by thetransponder itself to modulate the carrier signal.

Another disadvantage of the abovementioned, prior art solution consistsin that the base station in any case destroys information by sending thenotch signal, so that the described method can only be used in areasonable manner with a modulation index m<1, since a backscattersignal can also occur during a notch here; however, this adverselyaffects the achievable range in consideration of the foregoing.

Also, in a conventional communication method, each of a number of remoteunits in the form of transponders first transmits certain header data toa control unit (base station) after a randomly determined time haselapsed, as is taught in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,104,279. When thecontrol unit receives such header data error-free, it can transmit aconfirmation signal, which the relevant transponder interprets as acommand to continue transmission, while the other transponders areautomatically and simultaneously muted.

However, in the conventional art, there may be a statistically possibleevent of simultaneous transmission of header data by more than onetransponder prior to reception of the confirmation signal, thusinterference between the header data transmissions can occur, so thatthe process is delayed by the period of time corresponding to the lengthof the header data and the random period of time after which the nexttransponder transmits its header data.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a methodthat is streamlined in its time sequence while also being reliable.

The object is attained by the invention with a method in that a controlunit transmits a control signal to the remote units substantiallysimultaneously with the provided transmission of the data sequence as afunction of a communication state, such as the absence of a transmissionof the data sequence by at least one remote unit or an at leastpartially simultaneous transmission of the data sequence by more thanone remote unit.

Accordingly, in accordance with the invention, the remote units areinformed about a potentially unfavorable communication statesimultaneously with the provided data transmission, i.e. in full duplexoperation, so that the switchoff of the RSSI circuit necessary in priorart methods can be omitted. The control signal in accordance with theinvention can be, for example, a notch signal, but for reliabilityreasons the modulation index m should be as large as possible,preferably m=1, such as in the case of double side band modulation(DSBM). However, the use of another command structure, in particular ashort command structure (low bit count), is also possible, potentiallyin conjunction with protection with parity data or CRC data.

The method according to the invention can also be used together with acommunication protocol such as the one disclosed in the aforementionedU.S. Pat. No. 6,104,279, which is incorporated by reference herein.According to U.S. Pat. No. 6,104,279, the tags each transmit a messageto the base station starting from a randomly determined point in time.An inventive control signal during the first part of this message(called header data in U.S. Pat. No. 6,104,279) would cause thecurrently active tags to immediately stop their backscattering so thatthe base station then has a greater probability of receiving a latertransmitting tag without interference. In addition, the control signalaccording to the invention can also cause the still inactive tags tocount down their time delay counter (which begins with a random numberas the starting value, for example).

The inventive solution can also be used with another prior art ALOHAmethod. In this case, a base station repeatedly sends a query, forexample, by which means a random number stored in each of the tagslocated in the area is modified, e.g. counted down. Once a certainthreshold value is reached in the counter in question, the tag inquestion transmits its message to the base station with the backscattermethod, although collisions also occur here on account of statisticalprobabilities. In corresponding prior art methods, the base station mustthen wait until the end of the backscatter stream, which under certaincircumstances contains the complete tag ID (RSSI disabled; see above).According to the invention, it is also possible with these and relatedmethods for transmission of the control signal to cause all tags thatare active at a given point in time to stop their transmission,whereupon all remaining tags automatically count down their individualtimer. When this timer has reached its trigger threshold, for examplethe value zero, each of these tags automatically starts itstransmission. In this way, another transmission of the query signal(often a notch signal) is avoided, with the simultaneous result that thenoise level is also reduced, which improves the transmission quality andtransmission reliability.

Accordingly, provision is made in a first further example embodiment ofthe inventive method—as already mentioned above—that the control signalcauses an at least partially simultaneous data transmission by aplurality of remote units to be discontinued. Alternatively, the controlsignal can cause the control unit to stop waiting for a datatransmission by the remote units, particularly when further provision ismade that, during a predetermined time window, the control unit waitsfor transmission of the data sequence starting at a predetermined pointin time. In other words, the remote units—or tags—may only begin totransmit data sequences at defined, synchronous points in time (slots)with the necessary synchronization of the tags being controlled by thebase station. This is also known as the slotted ALOHA method (seeFinkenzeller, op. cit., pp 212 ff, which corresponds to pp 208 if of thepublished English version, and which is incorporated by referenceherein). Accordingly, therefore, the inventive control signal is onlyused when time windows or slots disadvantageously remain unoccupied(loss of time) or are multiply occupied (collision; see above), whichcontributes overall to accelerated communication and anticollision, andis expressed in a high tag/time unit rate.

For reliability reasons, the remote units, after receiving the commandand before executing the same, each can transmit to the control unitreliability data, preferably CRC check data (CRC=cyclic redundancycheck) calculated from the command data, including associated parametervalues, and inverted. In this regard, provision can further be made thatthe control unit transmits to the relevant remote units a confirmationsymbol and an end symbol (EOF=end of frame) on transmission of thereliability data, with at least one remote unit potentially beingexcluded by the confirmation symbol from executing the command. Theconfirmation symbol can be, for example, a logic “0” coded on the basisof predetermined time references (corresponding to a CRC bit accepted bythe control unit) or a logic “0” [sic] (CRC bit not accepted), whereuponthe unit in question is excluded from executing the command. The endsymbol stops the calculation and transmission of reliability data andtriggers execution of the command for the nonexcluded units.

Together with the command, the control unit preferably continues totransmit a maximum number of time windows (slots) intended forcommunication.

The remote units also can each transmit, as a data sequence, a randomnumber that they determined and optional additional predetermined datafrom a data content of the remote unit in question, whereby the randomnumber can specify the time window for the transmission of the datasequence by the remote unit in question, and whereby the length of theadditional data can be controlled by the control unit.

In addition, all remote units, executing the command, can beginsynchronously with a first transmission of the data sequence, so thatthe control unit can quickly establish whether a plurality ofaddressable units is in fact present in its area of influence.Consequently, the remote units whose random number corresponds to thetime window of the common, first transmission, determine a new randomnumber in order to subsequently be able to retransmit their datasequence. Thus, according to the invention each remote unit is activetwice, namely in the course of the aforementioned first transmission,for example in the first slot, and in a second slot determined by therandom number.

The data sequence can be terminated by the control signal duringtransmission of the random number, ensuring that no information is lostas a result of the termination signal. Moreover, a remote unit whosetransmission is terminated in this way can determine a new random numberby which the transmission slot is determined and subsequently retransmita data sequence during the corresponding time window. Alternatively, thetransmission of the data sequence can also be ended by the controlsignal during or after the transmission of the additional data.

In addition, provision can be made that a remote unit whose transmissionwas terminated is excluded from executing the command until thetransmission of a new command by the control unit, reducing the risk ofcollision in the time window.

In order to further accelerate the inventive communication methodrelative to prior art methods, in particular conventional (slotted)ALOHA anticollision methods, provision can be made that, in the eventthat data transfer is absent during a time window, the process isimmediately continued with the next time window.

Another example embodiment of the inventive method provides that, afterterminating transmission, the control unit transmits an additionalcontrol symbol (a logic “0,” a logic “1,” or an end symbol), which thendetermines whether transmission of the additional data continues with anext data content of the remote unit or whether the transmission of thelast data content of the remote unit is repeated. In this way, theadditional control signal can be used for new synchronization of thetransmission. Alternatively, on the basis of the additional controlsignal the transmission of the additional data can also be completelyterminated, at least for the remote unit in question and for the currenttime step, so that the control unit is able to flexibly terminate asuccessive readout of memory contents (memory scroll) of the remoteunits at any time once it has received the desired data. This also meansthat a quantity of data to be read is not inherently limited when anauto-decrement of the memory address is used; the only limit here is setby the memory size.

When, as described above, the transmission of the additional data hasbeen completely terminated on the basis of the additional controlsignal, at least for the remote unit in question and for the presenttime step, the reliability data for at least a part of the transmitteddata, preferably CRC data, are then transmitted from the remote unit tothe control unit, wherein the control unit:

checks the reliability data and in the event of a negative resulttransmits at least a first acknowledgement symbol, for example a logic“1”, whereupon the remote unit is labeled as not identified; or

checks the reliability data and in the event of a positive resulttransmits a second acknowledgement symbol, for example a logic “0”,whereupon the remote unit is labeled as identified and is muted; or

terminates the transmission of the reliability data by means of an endsymbol, whereupon the remote unit is labeled as identified and awaits anew command.

Thus, according to the invention, the acknowledgment symbol for thereliability data or, respectively, the end symbol simultaneously canserve as an acknowledge symbol, thereby eliminating transmission of anadditional acknowledge symbol that is generally provided in prior artmethods for confirming large data transfers, in particular.

In order to then be able to continue quickly with a new time window forthe purpose of streamlining the timing of the process, an advantageousfurther development of the invention is characterized in that, in theevent of the first two alternatives listed above, the control unitsubsequently transmits a time window control signal to begin a new timewindow. Likewise, in the event of the third alternative mentioned above,the control unit can terminate a new command that is to be transmittedand is expected by the remote unit by, for example, an end symbol andsubsequently transmit a time window control signal to begin a new timewindow. In addition, the remote unit can be muted upon transmission ofthe time window control symbol in this context. In this way, the controlunit can communicate with the selected remote unit in this time period,since the remote unit is first labeled as identified, i.e. is selectedand is not muted until later.

In this context, the control unit preferably transmits an unmodulatedcarrier signal in the form of a continuous wave, which is recognized bythe remote unit as a time window signal after the passage of a referencetime period.

In a further example embodiment, according to which the acknowledgementsymbol for the reliability data or the end symbol simultaneously servesas an acknowledge symbol so that the transmission of an additionalacknowledge symbol can be eliminated, the initially stated objectunderlying the invention is also attained by a method of the initiallymentioned type, in particular with the inclusion of one or more of theaforementioned embodiments, which method additionally is characterizedin that, after termination of the transmission of the data sequence,reliability data on at least a part of the transmitted data aretransmitted from the remote unit to the control unit and are checkedthere, and in that the control unit subsequently transmits to the remoteunit a control signal based on the result of the check, by means ofwhich control signal the remote unit is labeled either as identified oras not identified.

Further scope of applicability of the present invention will becomeapparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, itshould be understood that the detailed description and specificexamples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, aregiven by way of illustration only, since various changes andmodifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will becomeapparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from thedetailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawingswhich are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitiveof the present invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of an RFID system with a reader anda number of remote units (transponders or remote sensors) in thereader's response area;

FIG. 2 a illustrates a first data transmission sequence according to anexample embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 b illustrates a second data transmission sequence according to anexample embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates another data transmission sequence according to afurther example embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 a illustrates a first data sequence for selecting a remote unitaccording to an example embodiment;

FIG. 4 b illustrates a first data sequence for selecting a remote unitaccording to another example embodiment; and

FIG. 5 illustrates a data sequence for starting a new time windowaccording to an example embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows an RFID system 1 with a control unit in the form of areader 2 (base station) in connection with suitable transmitting andreceiving means 2′, such as a dipole antenna, and a number of remoteunits (transponders 3.1-3.4), which are all located in a response area Aof the reader 2.

In this situation, a data stream D transmitted by the reader 2 or thetransmitting means 2′ is received simultaneously by all transponders3.1-3.4. The data transmission from the reader 2 to a transponder3.1-3.4 is referred to below as forward link. The transponders 3.1-3.4reply at least to a completed data transmission from the reader 2through return links R, wherein a part of the energy received togetherwith the data D at the transponder 3.1-3.4 is reflected (backscattered)and may be modulated for data transmission from the transponders 3.1-3.4to the reader 2. When full-duplex-capable systems 1 are used inaccordance with a preferred first embodiment of the inventive method,transmission in the forward and return links takes place simultaneously,i.e. data transmission to the reader 2 can also take place while theforward link is still in progress.

Although the material here and below mainly refers only to transponders,the present invention can of course also be used in systems with anumber of remote sensors, possibly also in conjunction with a number oftransponders.

FIGS. 2 a and 2 b schematically show a first and a second datatransmission sequence between the base station 2 and a selectedtransponder 3.1-3.4 (FIG. 1) according to the inventive method in timesequence from left to right. As shown, the process begins in each casewith a command SA (“set_aloha”) provided for this purpose, which cancontain additional parameters, in particular a value S that defines anumber of data transmission slots to be provided for communication ofthe transponders 3.1-3.4 with the base station 2.

The command SA prompts the transponders 3.1-3.4 to transmit a datasequence DF to the base station 2 in execution of the command. Inaddition, the transponders determine a random number ZZ, which standsfor a slot (a time window) in which the transponder in question is totransmit, and store this random number in suitable storage means knownto the practitioner of the art. The subsequent anticollisioncommunication is based on a slot mechanism or time window mechanismcontrolled by the base station, wherein each transponder transmits(stored) data contents—by default an identification number OID—in “its”slot during the course of a so-called memory scroll, a run-through ofits memory, for example in an auto-decrement process. In doing so, afterstarting the slot SL, the base station inserts control symbols SSn, n=1,2, . . . into the scroll data sequence DF; if the system 1 hasfull-duplex capability, this also takes place simultaneously with thetransmission by the corresponding transponder. For example, a controlsymbol SS1=“0” (“0”=logic zero) stands for the next data content DS; ifSS1=“1” (“1”=logic one), the transponder repeats the last transmitteddata content DS.

Upon reception of an end symbol SS2=REOF (return end of frame), thetransponder transmits (inverted) CRC data CRC as reliability data.During the CRC transmission, the base station can transmit anacknowledge symbol SS3 (FIG. 2 b), which either accepts a result of theCRC check by the base station and identifies the transponder inquestion, and possibly selects it for selective communication (SS3=“0”),or rejects the CRC result and places the transponder into a waitingstate until the next command SA (SS3=“1”). The CRC area CRC isterminated with an end symbol SS4, which is equivalent to an acceptanceof the CRC result if there is no preceding control symbol SS3 (FIG. 2a).

At the beginning of a slot SL, the transponder transmits a random numberZZ′, preferably with a length of 8 bits, which in particular can beidentical to the aforementioned random number ZZ. During this(transmission) time the base station can leave (skip) the slot SL bytransmitting a control signal as described in greater detail below usingFIG. 3, for example if no transponder answers the command from the basestation or if transmissions from a plurality of transponders collidewith one another in this time slot SL. After the transmission of therandom number ZZ′, there then follows the aforementioned transmission ofdata contents DS from the sole transponder that is “authorized totransmit” in this slot SL based on its random number ZZ.

In accordance with the invention, at the start of the first slot SL1after issuance of the command SA, preferably all of the transponders3.1-3.4 addressable by the base station 2 transmit at least one suchrandom number ZZ′ so the base station can determine in a simple mannerwhether any transponders at all are present in its response area A (FIG.1).

If a transponder 3.1-3.4 should accidentally have calculated exactly thenumber of the first slot SL1 as the random number ZZ, then according tothe invention it advantageously generates a new, different randomnumber.

If the base station accepts the CRC data and thus confirms the datatransmitted by the transponder (data contents DS, with random number ZZ′if applicable), the tag in question is labeled as identified (see alsoFIG. 4 a) and thus subsequently can on the one hand be selectivelyaddressed if applicable by an appropriate command CO (for data readout,programming, or the like), and on the other hand can be muted withregard to further communication between the base station and theremaining transponders, resulting in a reduction in the risk ofcollisions.

Upon rejection of the CRC data CRC by the base station (FIG. 2 b), thetransponder in question is labeled as not identified (see also FIG. 4b); a further command CO′ can then follow immediately after an REOFsymbol SS4 from the base station.

Since the transponders 3.1-3.4 are, as stated, preferably capable inaccordance with the invention of being operated in full-duplex mode,they are able to receive a control signal such as a notch signal(modulation dip) from the base station 2 while they themselves aretransmitting data to the latter. Thus, if the base station detects acollision during transmission of the random number ZZ′, i.e. if morethan one transponder with the same random number ZZ transmits in thesame slot, then the base station for its part transmits theaforementioned control signal, which effects a skipping of this slot.All transponders that are active in this regard subsequently becomequiet until a new “set_aloha” command SA occurs.

According to the invention, the control signal can, as stated, also betransmitted when no transponder transmits its random number within aslot, so as to be able to continue quickly with the next slot.

The first variation of the two methods mentioned is shown in FIG. 3: inthe command/argument zone COA, the base station transmits the command SAdescribed above together with arguments (parameters) and terminates thistransmission with a first control symbol SS1 in the form of an FEOFsymbol (forward end of frame). This is followed by a reliability zoneCRCZ, in which the transponder backscatters (inverted) CRC data CRC tothe base station. The length of the CRC field is controlled by the basestation in this context; the calculation of the CRC data is based on thedata received by the transponder from the base station.

The base station then transmits at least one confirmation symbol BS tothe transponder: according to the invention, BS=“0” means that the basestation accepts the CRC data CRC; in the case of BS=“1,” the basestation does not accept the CRC data, and the transponder in question isexcluded from executing the command SA. The confirmation symbol BS isfollowed by a second control symbol SS2, which terminates the CRC zoneCRCZ, whereupon the transponder starts executing the correctly receivedcommand SA if applicable (BS=“0,” see above).

During the subsequent first slot SL1, each transponder, insofar as it isnot excluded—as described above—from command execution, transmits an(8-bit) random number ZZ′, followed if applicable by data contents DS ofits memory such as an OID or other selected memory contents. This“complete” transmission is shown in FIG. 3 only for the slot SL2 inwhich, according to the invention, transmission is performed only by thetransponder, whose random number ZZ (see above) is associated with thecorresponding slot number.

In slot SL1, as a result of the (desired) collision occurring hereduring the transmission of the random number ZZ′, the base stationtransmits a notch signal N as the third control symbol/control signalSS3, by which means the slot SL1 is exited and communication continuesimmediately with the slot SL2 already described. According to a firstalternative embodiment of the method, transponders that aresimultaneously active in the subsequent slots SLn can be shut down sothat they are only allowed to participate in the communication againafter the occurrence of a new “set_aloha” command SA. According to asecond alternative, the transponders in question calculate a new randomnumber ZZ and subsequently continue to participate in communication withthe base station.

Via the notch signal N, the base station can also leave an “empty” slotin which no transponder has responded during a predetermined timeperiod.

During the data transmission DS in slot SL2 in FIG. 3, a memory addressof the transponder in question is decremented in scroll mode (see above)so that the length of the data is under the control of the base station.The base station can transmit a control symbol to terminate the dataexchange with the transponder as shown in FIG. 4 a and described below.

The upper portions of FIGS. 4 a and 4 b each show first an inventivedata sequence for selecting a remote unit; indicated below this sequencein each case is the associated state (value) IDF over time of anidentification flag in the transponder, wherein IDF=1 means that theflag is set, i.e. the transponder is selected, and IDF=0 correspondinglymeans that the transponder is not selected.

The upper portions of FIGS. 4 a and 4 b each show the continuation ofthe data transmission DS in slot SL2 (generalized as slot SLn) from FIG.3. In order to terminate this transmission in a controlled manner, thebase station transmits a control/end symbol SS4 in the form of an FEOFsymbol, whereupon the transponder begins transmitting to the basestation reliability data in the form of (inverted) CRC data CRC′ for atleast part of the scroll data transmitted, but preferably for alltransmitted data. As shown in FIGS. 4 a and 4 b, the base stationreceives and checks the CRC data CRC′ and then, on the basis of thischeck, transmits an acknowledgement symbol QS in the form of a “0”(accepted; FIG. 4 a) or a “1” (rejected; FIG. 4 b), as a function ofwhich the flag IDF is set (FIG. 4 a) or is not set (FIG. 4 b).Additionally, in the case of accepted CRC data, the transponder inquestion is muted for further communication.

After the acknowledgement symbol QS, an unmodulated carrier wave CW fromthe base station, also referred to as a continuous wave, follows for acertain period of time. If this time reaches a threshold value FEOF*,this represents an end symbol FEOF, but without a notch signal having tobe sent, which—as already mentioned—favorably affects the noise level.The next slot SL3, SLn+1, in which the random number is againtransmitted first, starts immediately after such an EOF symbol.

When the base station terminates the CRC portion and if applicable theacknowledgement portion with an end symbol FEOF (not shown), IDF=1 islikewise set, and the transponder waits for a new command. If thisportion is terminated with an FEOF symbol and a continuous wave CW in amanner similar to that described above, the next slot again begins aftera time FEOF*; in this case, too, the transponder in question is mutedfor further communication. In this way, the base station can stillcommunicate with the transponder in the time between the selection ofthe transponder (setting of the flag IDF) and its muting.

Finally, the above-described “switchover” from slot SLn to a new slotSLn+1 is described again using FIG. 5. Once the base station hasterminated the transmission of CRC data CRC′ with a control symbol inthe form of a “0” (F0: forward “0”) or a “1” (F1: forward “1”), it cantransmit a continuous wave CW; the latter, as already described, alsoafter an FEOF symbol followed by a new command and an additionalconcluding FEOF symbol (not shown). After the time FEOF* elapses, thenext slot SLn+1 begins, which all potentially active transpondersinterpret as a “next_aloha” command, at which, according to theinvention, the relevant transponder or transponders assigned to the newslot transmit a new data sequence DF′ (see also FIGS. 2 a and 2 b) withleading random number.

The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same maybe varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as adeparture from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all suchmodifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to beincluded within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method, comprising: receiving, at one of aplurality of remote units, a command from a control unit; in response tothe command: determining a random number specifying a time slot of afirst series of time slots for transmitting a second data sequence tothe control unit; in response to a determination that the random numberspecifies the first time slot in the first series of time slots,determining a new random number; transmitting, in the first time slot inthe first series of time slots, a first data sequence to the controlunit; and receiving a control signal from the control unit, the controlsignal having been transmitted by the control unit upon detection of anat least partially simultaneous transmission of first data sequences bymore than one of the remote units.
 2. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising transmitting, in the time slot corresponding to the newrandom number in the first series of time slots, the second datasequence to the control unit.
 3. The method of claim 2, furthercomprising receiving a second control signal from the control unit, thesecond control signal having been transmitted by the control unit upondetection of an at least partially simultaneous transmission of seconddata sequences by more than one of the remote units.
 4. The method ofclaim 3, wherein the second control signal causes the at least partiallysimultaneous data transmission of second data sequences to bediscontinued.
 5. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving asecond control signal from the control unit, the second control signalhaving been transmitted by the control unit upon detection of an absenceof a transmission of a second data sequence during one of the time slotsin the first series of time slots.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein thesecond control signal immediately starts a subsequent time slot in thefirst series of time slots.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein thecontrol signal causes the at least partially simultaneous datatransmission of first data sequences to be discontinued.
 8. The methodof claim 1, wherein the control signal is received substantiallysimultaneously with the transmission of the first data sequence.
 9. Asystem, comprising: a transmitting/receiving device operable to receivea command from a control unit; and an integrated circuit operable to:determine a random number specifying a time slot of a first series oftime slots for transmitting a second data sequence to the control unit;and in response to a determination that the random number specifies thefirst time slot in the first series of time slots, determine a newrandom number; wherein the transmitting/receiving device is furtheroperable to: transmit, in the first time slot in the first series oftime slots, a first data sequence to the control unit; and receive acontrol signal from the control unit, the control signal having beentransmitted by the control unit upon detection of an at least partiallysimultaneous transmission of first data sequences by more than one of aplurality of systems.
 10. The system of claim 9, wherein thetransmitting/receiving device is further operable to transmit, in thetime slot corresponding to the new random number in the first series oftime slots, the second data sequence to the control unit.
 11. The systemof claim 10, wherein the transmitting/receiving device is furtheroperable to receive a second control signal from the control unit, thesecond control signal having been transmitted by the control unit upondetection of an at least partially simultaneous transmission of seconddata sequences by more than one of the plurality of systems.
 12. Thesystem of claim 11, wherein the second control signal causes the atleast partially simultaneous data transmission of second data sequencesto be discontinued.
 13. The system of claim 9, wherein thetransmitting/receiving device is further operable to receive a secondcontrol signal from the control unit, the second control signal havingbeen transmitted by the control unit upon detection of an absence of atransmission of a second data sequence during one of the time slots inthe first series of time slots.
 14. The system of claim 13, wherein thesecond control signal immediately starts a subsequent time slot in thefirst series of time slots.
 15. The system of claim 9, wherein thecontrol signal causes the at least partially simultaneous datatransmission of first data sequences to be discontinued.
 16. The systemof claim 9, wherein the control signal is received substantiallysimultaneously with the transmission of the first data sequence.
 17. Anintegrated circuit operable, upon receiving a command from a controlunit, to: determine a random number specifying a time slot of a firstseries of time slots for transmitting a second data sequence to thecontrol unit; in response to a determination that the random numberspecifies the first time slot in the first series of time slots,determine a new random number; generate a first data sequence fortransmittal, in the first time slot in the first series of time slots,to the control unit; and receive a control signal from the control unit,the control signal having been transmitted by the control unit upondetection of an at least partially simultaneous transmission of firstdata sequences by more than one of a plurality of integrated circuits.18. The integrated circuit of claim 17, wherein the integrated circuitis further operable, upon receiving the command from the control unit,to generate the second data sequence for transmittal, in the time slotcorresponding to the new random number in the first series of timeslots, to the control unit.
 19. The integrated circuit of claim 18,wherein the integrated circuit is further operable, upon receiving thecommand from the control unit, to receive a second control signal fromthe control unit, the second control signal having been transmitted bythe control unit upon detection of an at least partially simultaneoustransmission of second data sequences by more than one of the pluralityof integrated circuits.
 20. The integrated circuit of claim 17, whereinthe integrated circuit is further operable, upon receiving the commandfrom the control unit, to receive a second control signal from thecontrol unit, the second control signal having been transmitted by thecontrol unit upon detection of an absence of a transmission of a seconddata sequence during one of the time slots in the first series of timeslots.